Upholstery installation and fastener element for use therewith



Feb. 7, 1933. R F, WAL-[ERS 1,896,875

UPHOLSTERY INSTALLATION AND FASTENER LEMENT FOR USE THEREWITH Filed July 24, 1924 O Irwenomj Y RoZZaFT/Veng Patented Feb. 7, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcl-zv ROLLO F. WALTERS, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR, BY ASSIGNMENT/ T0 UNITED-CARR FASTENERCORPORATION, OF CAMIBIRIJCIDGE,` MZASSA(HUSEITIJSI GOB- PORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS 'UPHOLSTERY INSTALLATION AND FASTENER 'ELEMENT FOR n'USE THEBEWITH Application led July 24,

This invention aims vto provide an improved upholstery installation and improved fastening devices primarily useful in such installations. y

In the drawing, which illustrates a preferro@ embodiment of my invention I showing the upholstered part secured to the iao framework by separable fastener elements;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5--5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a plan and end elevation of a corner stud and reinforcing member;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of another reinforcing-member particularly fitted for straight ed es' Fig. 8 is an edge view of the reinforcing member as shown in Fig. 7

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the fastener stud with a round base shown in Figs. 4 and 5; and

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the fastener stud shown in Fig. 9.

Referring to thesdrawing, I have shown an upholstery installation (Fig. 2) including an upholstered part for application to a frame (Fig. 1). The upholstered part is provided with a plurality of reinforcing strips of varying shapes, shown in Figs. 3,6, 7 and 8, which are clenched over its edges to rotect them from becoming damaged and a so to stilfen the upholstered part adjacent the edges, thus making it more durable than it would be without the reinforcing string.

The part to be covered by the upholstery, herein shown as a door, may be of wood or metal, or a combination of the two, and provided with stud-reeeiving apertures for reception of heads of studs. Where the supporting frame is of Wood, separate sockets may be attached thereto. Where it is, of metal, p0r- 19'24. serial No. 727,956.

tions thereof forming the face to which the upholstery is to be applied, may have holes punched or drilled therein so that stud-receiving a ertures are presented in the metal, 'thelieby e iminating the necessity for separate soc ets.

In Fig. 1, I have shown a wooden frame 1, Y

having a metal covering 2 for the outside of the door. This covering extends over the edges of the door and onto the adjacent face of the wooden frame-f1", where it presents, at various points, a plurality of flange portions 3 in which are punched or Idrilled one or several stud-receiving apertures according to the length of the flange. These ianges 3 may be located at different points at the inside of the door and in an all metal door may extend completely around the inside of the door frame.

Referring now to the composite wood and metal door illustrated, in some instances, where the metal does not extend over the wooden frame 1, as at the lower rounded corners of the door (Fig. 1), separate sockets 5 are secured to the wooden frame by a plu- `rality of attaching prongs.

The upholstered part comprises a relatively stivibacking .7 of cardboard or the like havlng a plurality of'holes 8 therethrough adjacent the periphery of the backing. Through these holes protrude the heads 10 of studs for engagement with the stud-receiving apertures 4 in the door.

Each stud comprisesl a base 9 (Fig. 6), 9a (Fig. 9), 9b ig. 7) or 90 (Fig. 9) according to its shape, ahead 10 anda neck 11. The head is permitted to contract and expand when engaging with or disengaging from a stud-receiving aperture 4 by reason of a plurality of longitudinal slots 12, which extend from the outer end of the head preferably to the base of the stud, as illustrated.

By locating the base of the stud at the opposite side of the backing from the side where the head 10 of the stud protrudes, I am able to avail of the thickness of the backing to provide additional length to the stud without increasing the distance which the head of the stud protrudes. This additional length enables me in the type of stud shown,

to provide longer slots, thereby increasing the resiliency of the stud head, and, even more important, so locates the'base of the stud that it back-supports the liber or cardboard backing when the installation is being removed from the support which it covers. 4

Separate bases may be supplied for indi- Y vvidual studs, or several studs may project from a single strip, which then provide a common base for all the studs formed therel he studs, whether individual or combined in a strip, may be secured to the backing 7 by prongs 13 penetrating the backing and ex tending in the same directionas the stud heads, being clenched over that'w face of the backing which lies against the socket. These l prongs lhave little to do after the upholstery installation is completed, but are of use prior tocompletion thereof and particularly during the entrance of the stud into the socket,

at which. time,l unless the engaging pressure is applied to or inline with the base of the stud, the whole engagingforce must be borne by these prongs 13. n

The prongs arepreferably bent inwardly and downwardly against the cardboard, so that the base ofthe stud may form a support for the backing 7, whilel the prongs 13 are being clenchdagainst the'l backing. 'By attaching the studs in the, manner just de# scribed, a Yclench plate is not necessary because al1 of the strain exerted upon the stud through the cardboard backing is exerted upon theY base of the stud instead of the y prongs y13.

Also thismethod of attachment is desirable becausethe amount of materialwhichprojects beyond the surface of the backing is reduced to a minimum, thus allowing the flexible covering 6 to lie smoothly against the surface of the backing. j

In'Fig. 2, I have shown a plurality of reinforcing strips which have heretofore been called the b "ase portions ofthe studs. Where the bases of the studs are of varying shapes, as illustrated, to lit the different parts of the backing 7, they may also provide a means by which the upholstered portion may be greatly stiifenedl at the points where the upholstery is'- most likely to gap orbe pulled free from the door. They also protect and stifi'en the edges and just of the upholstery and keep the edges pressed tightly against the framework when the studs are engaged in the stud-receiving apertures 4. These base portions or reinforcing strips may be of suitable shape, triangular 9 for Sharp corners, as shown in Figs. 2y and 6, rounded for round corners 9a, as shown in Fig. 2, oblong`9b, as shown in Figs. 2 and 7, plain round 9c as shown in Figs. 2 and 9.

When the base portions are used as reinforcing strips, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, 6 and 7, the flaps 15 (Fig. 6) or 15a (Fig. 7) may be bent onthe dotted lines 16, over the edge 1 i of the cardboard and clenched against the opposite side thereof'to insure a secure fastening of the base portion to the carboard,

thereof.

After the studs have been secured to the backing, the uter covering 6 of flexible maf terial is placed over the backing on that side Where the bases of the studs are exposed and the prongs 13 preventing any lateral shifting 70 I is secured to the backing by stretching it over y the edges thereof and onto the adjacentv face where it is secured by pasting, or in any suitable manner. Thus the cardboard and the bases ofthe studs are concealed from view and the installation presents a neat and finished appearance. i

In wooden frames, the drilled recesses 14 arek provided behindl the stud-receiving apertures where the wood might otherwise ob struct entrance of the head of the stud.

The smallestv diameter ofthe neck of each stud is preferably so located` that the head 10 of the stud is sloped wherel it engages 'the socket, and the diameter at this point of en- -gagement is preferably such that the stud@ heads will bejslightly contracted when the "upholsteredfpart contacts with themetal part `of the door. The stud, therefore, by reason I ofthe slope, constantly exerts a pull on the Vupholsteredpart which keeps the edges of the upholstered part tightlyy pressed against.

the adjacent face of the art to which it is attached. Thus an instaI ation is provided which presents no gapingedges.y

While I'have'shown and describedmy fin? vention in `connectionwith the applicationl of an upholstered part to. an automobile door panel, it will be understood that it is of use u inA connection with upholstery installations generally, whether padded or not. In a companion application, l'filed' herewith, 'is shown and claimed a somewhat :similar installation wherein the studs and their bases are carried .b v. but shi'ftable relative to,base pieces attached to the lbacking. Some of the features herein claimed are useful with studs which f are shiftabl'e. The specific disclosures of the prongs for securing the reinforcing strip toV the backing of the upholstered part and a ap portion adapted to be bent over4 the edge of the backing and against the opposite face thereof, thereby to reinforce the edge of the backing. i

2. A reinforcing fastener strip for an up-- holstered part comprising a single sheet of metal presenting fastening means for engagement with cooperating separable fastening means located upon the part to be covered by the upholstered part, a plurality of prongs for securing the reinforcing strip to the backing of the upholstered part and a plurality of flap portions adapted to be bent over the edges of the backing to reinforce the backing adjacent the edges thereof.

3. A reinforcingfastener element comprising a strip of sheet metal of substantial y area having a plurality of integral stud heads pressed therefrom and a plurality of integral bendable attaching elements formed from said strip and exten-ding therefrom in the same direction as said stud heads for attaching the strip to a support. A

4. An upholstered part including a backing, a covering for one side of said backing and a plurality of studs for detachably securing said upholstered part to a frame, said studs having a base between said backing and said covering, said base presenting a portion which is crimped over the edge of the backing and against the opposite face thereof to secure said base in position upon said backing and to reinforce the edge of said installation,

said crimped-over portion being concealed by an overfolded edge of said covering.

5. An upholstered part including a generally stiff backing, a wreinforcing strip secured to the edge of said backing to protect and stiften said edge, and a stud member formed from the material of said strip and presented for engagement with a suitable socket presented by a part to which the upholstered part is to be secured.

40 6. An upholstered part including a generally stiff backing, a reinforcing strip, means formed integral with said strip for securin the strip to said backing and a plurality o stud members formed integral with said strip, said stud members passing through said backing and'eXposed at the o poste side thereof and a flexible covering or concealino' said reinforcing strip and for providing' a nish to one face of said backing.

In witness whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

RoLLo F. WAnrERs. 

